Television apparatus with supplementary display means



Feb. 5, 3%? E. T. BELMONT 9 Q TELEVISION APPARATUS WITH SUPPLEMENTARY DISPLAY MEANS Filed Aug. 18, 1954 United States Patent ,0

TELEVISION APPARATUS WITH SUPPLE- MENTARY DISPLAY MEANS Elliott T. Belmont, Boston, Mass. Application August 18,1954, Serial No. 450,602 6 Claims. (Cl. 340-368) This invention relates to television apparatus which has supplementary means to display an image.

One object of my invention is to provide the usual television set with means to project an image, temporarily, ctr; the screen only when the raster and main picture are Another object of my invention is to provide said image display means that almost immediately presents an image on the television screen when the electrical current is turned on, which image automatically ceases when the raster appears on the screen.

A further object is to provide such image display means, which automatically presents an image on the television screen when the electrical current, that supplies the main picture tube is turned off, which image appears on said screen for a predetermined time.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction and arrangement such as is disclosed by the drawings. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and therefore, I am not to be limited to the construction disclosed by the drawings nor to the particular parts described in the specification; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a picture tube for a television set with my supplementary display means, for displaying an image, attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic, longitudinal, sectional view of my supplementary, image display means shown attached to a picture tube, the latter being shown broken away.

As illustrated, I use the usual cathode ray, picture tube 6 of any television set, domestic or commercial. At the end or base of said television tube are the usual electricity conducting means, shown as numerous pins feeding electricity to a gun structure or structures, to one of which I give the numeral 8, and another the numeral 10, and which are heater or filament pins. This tube 6 has the usual filament 12 which is heated by electricity passing through said pins 8 and 10 to which it is connected.

An electricity conducting wire 14 from said pin 10 extends along the inside surface of the tube and through the wall of the latter to a supporting member 11, providing an enclosed compartment, attached to the outside wall of said picture tube 6. This wire 14 branches off inside the compartment 11, one branch 15 extending to a filament 15 of an illuminating bulb which i thus heated through the electric circuit that supplies filament 12, the filaments 12 and 16 being wired in parallel. A wire 17 extends from said filament 16 to a thermostatic switch having a part 18 which is adjacent another part 19 of said thermostatic switch, later explained, from which extends a mm 20 to said pin 8.

Said filament 16 is effectively heated to the point of illumination considerably sooner than filament 12, hence filament 16 is effective for the purpose of throwing an image on the picture tube face F, though a lens 44 and a slide or plate 46, later described, during the time said filament 12 is being heated. For instance, filament 16 may become effectively heated as aforesaid in about two seconds, whereas filament 12 may take sixty or more seconds before it provides the required illumination.

Another branch wire 21 extends from said wire 14 to a solenoid 22 which latter is connected to a wire 23 that extends to said pin 8, hence a circuit to said solenoid is always closed when the picture tube filament 12 is supplied with electric current.

Said solenoid 22 has an armature 26 that extends therefrom to a dashpot 27 which preferably is used to delay, and provide a cushion for, movement of said armature 26 in one direction only. A tension spring 28 is attached to and extends from said supporting member 11 at one end to said armature 26. The tension of this spring 23 can be overcome when the solenoid 22 is energized; but normally it holds said armature 2 6 in the position shown by solid lines in said Figure 2.

A shoe or contact member 29 has a shank 30 that is pivotally fastened as at 32 to said support or compartment 11. A wire 33 extends from said shank 30 to a filament 43, later described. Said shank 359 has a slot 34 therein, and a pin 36 is attached to said armature 26 and one end of said spring 23, and extends through said slot 34 whereby said shank 30 is rotatably moved when said armature 26 moves. The forward movement of the armature brings said contact member 29 temporarily into contact with a stationary contact member 38 from which a wire 40 extends to a battery B or separate source of electrical current.' Another wire 42 extends from said battery B to a filament 43 which illuminates the same lens 44 and slide 46 mentioned above and supplements momentarily the illumination thrown through said lens and slide by filament 16. The two filaments 16 and 43, for an instant, simultaneously throw a beam through said lens and slide to the face F of picture tube 6 through a transparent portion, later described, of said picture tube.

The return movement of said spring-loaded armature 26, when the solenoid 22 is de-energized, is delayed by said dashpot 27, as it again brings said contact member 25? temporarily into contact with said stationary contact member 33, thereby heating said filament 43 which temporarily throws a beam through said lens and slide to the picture tube face.

Adjacent said filaments 16 and 43 are image display means that serve both filaments 16 and 43, having a lens 44 and a plate or slide 46 that carries said projected image, which plate is adjacent said lens 44. Said picture tube 6 has a transparent portion or window 48 opposite said plate 46 to permit said image to show on the television screen face F. I

When the control knob of a television set is turned on, the electrical current heats said picture tube filament 12, and current flows through wire 14 and wire 15 to said filament 16. Another wire 17 completes the circuit from said filament 16 to said thermostat parts 18 and 19 and wire 22'), and while this circuit is established the filament 16 illuminates the image on said plate 46, which image is thrown on the television screen through the said window in said television tube. This image is ordinarily advertising material or may include a short moving picture of some kind.

- ing the electrical circuitand cutting off the supply of electricity to said filament 16, hence the image ceases to show on the television screen.

When the control knob .is turned to on position, the solenoid 22 is energized, thereby drawing part of said armature 26 quickly into it which moves contact member 29 to the position shown in dash lines in said Figure 2, which is slightly beyond said stationary contact member 38. When the controlknob is turned to off position, said armature 26 returns to normal position due to spring 28, but the movement is slow due to dashpot 27, thereby carrying said contact member 29 into contact with said stationary contact member 33, thus establishing a circuit through said battery B for a brief period, thereby heating said filament 43 to the point of illumination independently of filament 16, to thus display the said image, such as any advertising material, immediately after the main picture disappears. This second showing of the image is independent of the first showing, hence either one, or both'showings, may be presented. As described there is thus an image thrown on the television screen briefly when the on-off switch is thrown to the on position and another image thrown on the television screen briefly when the on-01f switch is thrown to the off position.

What I claim is:

1. Television apparatus comprising a cathode ray tube embodying a filament, and having a transparent portion, electricity transmitting means connected to said tube, a thermostatic switch within said tube embodying two parts in electrical contact with each other, the first said part being connected to said means and being so positioned that a predetermined degree of heat from said filament is adapted to electrically separate said parts, a supporting member, providing a compartment, attached to said tube, a filament in said compartment adapted to be heated before said tube filament reaches said predetermined degree of heat, electricity conducting instrumentalities connected to said means and to said latter filament, and other electricity conducting instrumentalities connected to said latter filament and to the second of said thermostatic switch parts, and image display means in said compartment adapted to be illuminated by said latter filament and being so positioned whereby an image therefrom may be shown through said tube transparent portion.

2. Television apparatus comprising a cathode ray tube embodying a filament, and having a transparent portion in the wall thereof, electricity transmitting means connected to said tube, a thermostatic switch within said tube embodying two parts in electrical contact, with each other, the first said part being connected to said means and being so positioned that a predetermined degree of heat from said filament is adapted to electrically separate said parts, a supporting member attached to the wall of said tube, a filament supported by said supporting member and adapted to be illuminated before said tube filament reaches said predetermined degree of heat, electricity transmitting instrumentalities connected to said means and to said latter filament, and other electricity conducting instrumentalities connected to said latter filament and to the second of said thermostatic switch parts, and image display means supported by said supporting member and adapted to be illuminated by said latter filament and being so positioned whereby an image therefrom may be shown through said tube transparent portion.

3. Television apparatus comprising a cathode ray tube embodying a filament and having a transparent portion, electricity transmitting means connected to said tube, a thermostatic switch embodying two parts in electrical contact with each other, the first said part being connected to said means and beingso positioned that a predetermined degreeof heat from'saidfilament is adapted to electrically separate said parts, asupporting member, providing a compartment, attached to. said tube,

a filament in said compartment, electricity conducting instrumentalities connected to said means and to said latter filament, and other electricity conducting instrumentalities connected to said latter filament and to the second of said thermostatic switch parts, image display means in said compartment adapted to be illuminated by said latter filament and being so'positioned whereby a picture therefrom may be shown through said tube transparent portion, a solenoid in said compartment, electricity transmitting instrumentalities connected to said means and to said solenoid and other electricity transmitting instrumentalities connected to said means and to said solenoid, said solenoid embodying an armature extending beyond it and adapted to be partly drawn into said solenoid when the latter is electrically activated, a movable contact member movably connected to said armature and movable therewith, means pivotally supporting said movable contact member in said compartment, a tension spring attached to said compartment and to said armature and adapted to normally hold said armature in predetermined position and adapted to be overcome by said solenoid when the latter is electrically activated, another contact member in said compartment adapted to be contacted by said movable contact member during the latters course of movement when said armature is actuated, said movable contact member being adapted to pass beyond contact with said other contact member during movement of said armature, means to supply electricity, electricity transmitting instrumentalities connected to said other contact member and to said latter means, a filament in said compartment positioned so as to illuminate said image display means, electricity transmitting instrumentalities connected to said latter means and to said latter filament, and electricity transmitting instrumentalities connected to said latter filament and to said movable contact member whereby an electrical circuit is completed when said movable contact member is in contact with said stationary contact member.

4. Television apparatus comprising a cathode ray tube embodying a filament and having a transparent portion in the wall thereof, electricity transmitting means connected to said tube, a thermostatic switch embodying two parts in electrical contact with each other, the first said part being connected to said means and being so positioned that a prede ermined degree of heat from said filament is adapted to electrically separate said parts, a supporting member, providing a compartment, attached to said tube at one side thereof, a filament supported by said supporting member, electricity conducting instrumentalities connected to said means and to said latter filament, and other electricity conducting instrumentalities connected to said latter filament and to the second of said thermostatic switch parts, image display means supported by said supporting member and adapted to be illuminated by said latter filament and being so positioned whereby a picture therefrom may be shown through said tube transparent portion, a solenoid in said compartment, electricity transmitting instrumentalities connected to said means and to said solenoid and other electricity transmitting instrumentalities connected to said means and to said solenoid, said solenoid embodying an armature extending beyond it and adapted to be partly drawn into said solenoid when the latter is electrically activated, a movable contact member, movably connected to said armature and movable therewith, means pivotally supporting said movable contact member in said compartment, a tension spring attached to said supporting member and to said armature and adapted to normally hold said armature in predetermined position and adapted to be overcome by said solenoid when the latter is electrically activated, another contact member in said compartment adapted to be contacted by said movable contact member during the latters course of movement whensaid armature is actuated, said movable contact member being adapted to pass beyond contact with-said other contact member during movement of said armature, means to supply electricity, electricity transmitting instrumentalities connected to said other contact member and to said latter means, a filament supported by said supporting member positioned so as to illuminate said image display means, electricity transmitting instrumentalities connected to said latter means and to said latter filament, and electricity transmitting in-strumentalities connected to said latter filament and to said movable contact member whereby an electrical circuit is completed when said movable contact member is in contact with said stationary contact member.

5. Television apparatus comprising a cathode ray tube having a transparent portion, electricity transmitting means connected to said tube, a supporting member, providing a compartment, attached to said tube, a solenoid in said compartment, electricity transmitting instrumentalities connected to said means and to said solenoid and other electricity transmitting instrumentalities connected to said means and to said solenoid, said solenoid embodying an armature extending beyond it and adapted to be partly drawn into said solenoid when the latter is electrically activated, a movable contact member movably connected to said armature and movable therewith, means movably supporting said movable contact member in said compartment, means attached to said compartment and to said armature and adapted to normally hold said armature in predetermined position and adapted to be overcome by said solenoid when the latter is electrically activated, another contact member in said compartment adapted to be contacted by said movable contact member during the latters course of movement when said armature is actuated, said movable contact member being adapted to pass beyond contact with said other contact member during movement of said armature, means to supply electricity, electricity transmitting instrumentalities connected to said other contact member and to said latter means, image display means in said compartment, a filament in said compartment positioned so as to illuminate said image display means, said image display means being so positioned whereby an image therefrom may be shown through said tube transparent portion, electricity transmitting instrumentalities connected to said latter means and to said latter filament, and electricity transmitting instrumentalities connected to said latter filament and to said movable contact member whereby an electrical circuit is completed when said movable contact member is in contact with said other contact member.

6. Television apparatus comprising a cathode ray tube having a transparent portion, electricity transmitting means connected to said tube, a supporting member attached to said tube, a solenoid supported by said supporting member, electricity transmitting instrumentalities connected to said means and to said solenoid and other electricity transmitting instrumentalities connected to said means and to said solenoid, said solenoid embodying an armature extending beyond it and adapted to be partly drawn into said solenoid when the latter is electrically activated, a movable contact member, movably connected to said armature and movable therewith, means pivotally supporting said movable contact member supported by said supporting member, a tension spring attached to said supporting member and to said armature and adapted to normally hold said armature in predetermined normal position and adapted to be overcome by said solenoid when the latter is electrically activated, another cont-act member supported by said supporting member adapted to be contacted by said movable cont-act memher during the latters course of movement when said armature is actuated, said movable contact member being adapted to pass beyond contact with said other contact member during movement of said armature, means to supply electricity, electricity transmitting instrumentalities connected to said other contact member and to said latter means, image display means supported by said supporting member, a filament supported by said supporting member positioned so as to illuminate said image display means, said image display means being so positioned whereby an image therefrom may be shown through said tube transparent portion, electricity transmitting instrumentalities connected to said latter means and to said latter filament, and electricity transmitting instrumentalities connected to said latter filament and to said movable contact member whereby an electrical circuit is completed when said movable contact member is in cont-act with said other contact member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,316,550 Bigalke Apr. 13, 1943 

